Roadwork is Bad for Business

MIFFLINBURG — Roadwork continues along a busy section of Route 45 in Mifflinburg. The work is being done to makeover the downtown, and a detour is in place until construction is finished.

There is no lunchtime rush at Charles Place on Route 45 in Mifflinburg. The restaurant’s owner said business has been slow, because this is what it looks like in downtown Mifflinburg.

“We’re trying to do everything we can. We’re cutting hours of the shop, whatever we can to struggle through it. We’ll make it but it’s going to be rough,” said owner Michael Doane.

Roadwork recently started on a section of Route 45 in Mifflinburg. Over the next seven months, PennDOT plans to reconstruct sidewalks, curbs and a one mile long stretch of the road. Some people worry the detour will drive people away from Mifflinburg.

Traffic is being detoured onto nearby Market Street, which neighbors said is normally a pretty quiet street. All of the stop signs on Market Street have bags covering them so traffic can just go through without any problems. Neighbors call the situation a chaotic mess.

“It starts at 5, 5:30 in the morning and goes until 9, 10 at night. It’s just continuous truck traffic,” said Joe West.

Not everyone is upset by the roadwork. Gary Haire lives right by all the action and doesn’t mind it.

“It’s an improvement in the street. It needs it. There is a lot of traffic that comes through here and the weight of the trucks destroys the road,” said Haire.

As for Charles Place, the owner hopes business picks up.

“There really ain’t nothing positive about them doing construction through here. Maybe the road will be better,” said Doane.

PennDOT expects to have the entire project along Route 45 in Mifflinburg wrapped up in the fall.